Here you can browse the House of Commons Order of Business for Tuesday 23 October 2001.

Notes:
* indicates a question for oral answer.
[R] indicates that the Member has declared a relevant interest.
Questions for oral answer not reached receive a written answer.
Supplementary questions will also be asked. Other Ministers may also answer.

+ indicates Government business.
Timings are indicative only.

At 2.30 p.m. Prayers

Afterwards

Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions

*1

Rosemary McKenna (Cumbernauld & Kilsyth): What recent representations he has received on regional government.

(
5567
)

*2

Mr Michael Foster (Worcester): What plans he has to reform the standard spending assessment.

(
5568
)

*3

Mrs Ann Cryer (Keighley): What steps his Department is taking to increase turnout at local government elections.

(
5569
)

*4

Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): What representations he has received from councillors concerning housebuilding targets for Hertfordshire

(
5570
)

*5

Richard Ottaway (Croydon South): If he will exercise his veto over the introduction of the congestion tax in London.

(
5571
)

*6

Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): What steps his Department is taking to improve the maintenance of local roads.

(
5572
)

*7

Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): What proposals he has to test public opinion for elected regional assemblies in England.

(
5573
)

*8

Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): What plans he has to restrict the granting of planning permission for mobile phone masts close to schools.

(
5574
)

*9

Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): What the annual running cost is of the South East Regional Chamber.

(
5575
)

*10

Geraint Davies (Croydon Central): What assessment he has made of the impact of congestion charging in London on rail capacity.

(
5576
)

*11

Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): What plans he has to increase the public accountability of Railtrack.

(
5578
)

*12

Mr David Lammy (Tottenham): If he will make a statement on the provision of homes for key workers.

(
5579
)

*13

Andy Burnham (Leigh): What measures he is taking to improve local transport services in deprived areas.

(
5580
)

*14

Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): When he last met the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss proposals for the reform of regional government.

(
5582
)

*15

Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): If he will indicate the expected annual rate of return for investment of the infrastructure companies in London Underground over the next 15 years.

(
5583
)

*16

Ms Claire Ward (Watford): What steps are being taken to provide homes for key workers.

(
5584
)

*17

Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough): If he will allocate substantial resources over the next two years to develop clean renewable biofuels for road transport.

(
5585
)

*18

Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South): What assessment he has made of the latest estimate by Railtrack of the upgrade of the West Coast Mainline; and if he will make a statement.

(
5587
)

*19

David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): If he will make a statement on the recent discussions he has had with representatives of local government on improving local services.

(
5588
)

*20

Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe & Sale East): What steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of people in local authority paid bed and breakfast accommodation.

(
5589
)

*21

Phil Sawford (Kettering): What steps he is taking to improve bus services to disadvantaged communities in rural areas.

(
5590
)

*22

Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central): What steps he is taking to improve bus services to disadvantaged communities in urban areas.

(
5591
)

*23

Dr Nick Palmer (Broxtowe): If he will make a statement on speed management on the roads.

(
5592
)

*24

Miss Anne Begg (Aberdeen South): If he will make a statement on passenger rail franchising.

(
5593
)

*25

Tony Baldry (Banbury): What recent discussions he has had with local authority associations on the formula for allocating local government finance.

(
5594
)

*26

Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green & Bow): If he will make a statement on his proposals for rent restructuring.

(
5595
)

*27

Mr Mike Hall (Weaver Vale): If he will make a statement on local transport plans.

(
5596
)

*28

Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks): How much subsidy is provided to bus services in West Kent.

(
5597
)

*29

Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak): What steps he is taking to improve bus services to disadvantaged communities in rural areas.

(
5598
)

*30

Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): If he will make a statement on the introduction of quieter motorway surfaces.

(
5599
)

*31

Mrs Jacqui Lait (Beckenham): If he will make a statement on progress towards installing automatic train protection across the rail network.

(
5602
)

*32

Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion): If he will make a statement on the implementation of the single rail franchise for Wales.

(
5603
)

*33

Laura Moffatt (Crawley): If he will make a statement on the provision of homes for key workers.

(
5604
)

*34

Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): What plans there are to improve services on the Northern Line.

(
5605
)

*35

Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): If he will make a statement on the discussions he has had with representatives of local government on improving local services.

(
5606
)

At 3.30 p.m.

Private Notice Questions (if any)Ministerial Statements (if any)

Preliminary Business

Notice of Presentation of Bill

1

DIVORCE

Mr Andrew Dismore [No debate]

That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision enabling a court to require the dissolution of a religious marriage before granting a civil divorce.

Formal first reading: no debate or decision.

Main Business

2

OPPOSITION DAY [2nd allotted day] [Until 10.00 p.m.]

CONDUCT OF MINISTERS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

That this House deplores the culture of spin in the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions; condemns the attitude and advice of the Special Adviser to the Secretary of State, Ms Jo Moore, and Ministers who acted upon her advice, thus perpetuating that culture throughout Government; agrees with the Chairman of the Public Administration Committee that Ms Moore's email of 11th September was `incompatible with any idea of public service'; believes that as long as Ms Moore retains the confidence of Ministers, she brings Her Majesty's Government into disrepute; and calls on the Secretary of State to dismiss her forthwith.

As Amendments to Mr Iain Duncan Smith's proposed Motion (Conduct of ministers in the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions):

Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `deplores the conduct of New Labour Ministers in failing to address the damage caused to the rail network by the privatisation policy of the previous Conservative government; notes the Government's U-turn as a result of the Railtrack crisis towards accepting public control over the rail infrastructure; calls for an independent Scottish Public Rail Investment Trust to be established in order to secure the maximum investment in Scotland's rail infrastructure on a not-for-profit basis, and for the creation of a separate body for Wales matching the geographic boundaries of the Welsh Rail Franchise; further calls for the full devolution of rail industry powers from Westminister to the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales; and deplores the culture of spin which has replaced proactive policy initiatives in the DTLR, culminating in the e-mail from the Secretary of State's Special Adviser, Jo Moore, on 11th September; and calls on the Secretary of State to dismiss her forthwith.'.

Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `deplores the culture of spin in the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions; demands an immediate formal investigation into the role and conduct of Ms Jo Moore, the circumstances surrounding the transfer of Mr Alun Evans from his post as Director of Communications in that Department and the placing of Railtrack into administration; calls for the results of that investigation to be published and appropriate action taken upon its findings; regrets the refusal of Ministers to instigate such an investigation since enforcement of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, the Civil Service Code and the Ministerial Code are essential to prevent public cynicism about decisions of government; and calls for the early introduction of a Civil Service Act.'.

Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `believes that Ms Jo Moore's e-mail of 11th September was horrible, wrong and stupid; notes that she has been dealt with under the Department's disciplinary procedures and that the Permanent Secretary has given her an official warning as to her conduct and that she has expressed her heartfelt regret and offered a full apology; welcomes the decisive action that Ministers have taken in regard to Railtrack which will be welcomed by the travelling public; rejects the policies of the Opposition, who would have continued to pour money into propping up the company, thus amplifying the problems caused by the way they privatised the rail industry; and further welcomes the work of DTLR ministers in developing positive policies, to improve the position of local government, to tackle problems of homelessness and urban regeneration and to develop proposals for regional government and contrasts this with the policies of the Opposition who decimated local government, ignored the problems of deprived communities and centralised power.'.

The selection of the matters to be debated this day has been made by the Leader of the Opposition (Standing Order No. 14(2)).

Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m.

+ 3

CRIMINAL LAW [No debate]

Mr Secretary Blunkett

That the draft Drug Abstinence Order (Responsible Officer) (No.2) Order 2001, which was laid before this House on 17th July, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

At the end of the sitting:

4

ADJOURNMENT

Proposed subject: Housing development in Hampshire (Mr Mark Hoban).

Debate may continue until 10.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).

Transport, Local Government and the Regions: Urban Affairs Sub-Committee

9.45 a.m.

10.00 a.m.

The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public)

Subject: Draft PPG17: Sport, Open Space and Recreation.

Witnesses: Greater London Authority, Leeds City Council and York City Council; Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management (ILAM) (at 10.50 a.m.); Peabody Trust and the HouseBuilders Federation (at 11.20 a.m.).

Immediately after the meeting of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments

Room 7 (private)

JOINT COMMITTEE

16

Statutory Instruments

4.15 p.m.

Room 7 (private)

[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.]

Written Questions tabled on Monday 22nd October for answer today++

1

Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Government will publish its response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee 5th Report of Session 2000-01 on Genetics and Insurance.

(
10120
)

2

Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the outcome was of the EU/GHENT European Council held in Ghent on 19th October; what the Government's stance was on each issue discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

(
10121
)

3

Mr Chris Bryant (Rhondda): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what key targets have been set for the Defence Aviation Repair Agency for 2001-02.

(
10122
)

4

Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the structure and funding of the company limited by guarantee which he will propose should take over Railtrack Plc's role as network operator.

(
10123
)

5

Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, if he has appointed a new chairman to the Civil Aviation Authority; and if he will make a statement.

(
10064
)

6

Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he will announce the outcome of the annual review of the cold weather payments scheme; and if he will make a statement.